The much-anticipated Broadway revival of “Funny Girl” opened on April 24, 2022, to mixed reviews. Some theatergoers raved about Beanie Feldstein’s turn as Fanny Brice — among them her brother, Jonah Hill. The proud sibling took to Instagram to post a picture of his sister dressed in her Brice leopard ensemble for her third birthday, saying in part, “I’m obviously proud as her older brother, but what I saw her do tonight surpassed siblinghood or pride. Her talent caused me to cheer from the depths of my heart.”
The press was apparently less impressed. The Washington Post‘s writeup was titled, “Beanie Feldstein attempts to scale ‘Funny Girl.’ She almost makes it.” The review went on to say that Feldstein’s singing is “adequate,” but not strong enough for a role that demands an exceptional voice. The New York Times called her vocals merely “good,” and Entertainment Weekly bluntly called her “fundamentally miscast.” Vulture’s review was even more scathing. It blasted Feldstein’s voice as “not a sound you expect to hear on Broadway,” and concluded that she simply doesn’t have the “presence” to carry the show.
Time Out reviewer Adam Feldman called Feldstein “a gifted comedian” whose stage talents shone in her supporting role in “Hello, Dolly!,” however, he added that she’s “overmatched” as Fanny Brice — a disadvantage for a show whose storyline has always been rather thin. “To cover its holes, this musical requires a star who really has the goods,” Feldman said. “What Feldstein has is the okays.”
